How to Become the Instructive Fool: Supervising Planning Students at a PBL University

This paper explores how the concept of “the facilitator as a fool” can be used as a guiding principle for supervising students at universities adhering to problem-based learning pedagogies. With the example of students enrolled at spatial planning studies, the paper argues that students should learn how to face uncertainty and take matters into their own hands. For this purpose, the paper proposes that supervisors act as “fools” in their conversations with students, mimicking a reflective practice. The paper reflects on how this concept fares when applied to a real-life situation of supervising planning students at both Bachelor's and Master’s levels at Aalborg University in Denmark. In the end, the paper concludes that the applied concept can work to a certain degree, but it also requires a supervisor who is familiar with the theoretical and methodological “landscape” that students need to navigate in, and through, to become professional and reflective practitioners

Barriers and Potentials for Implementing PEDs in Denmark

The aim of this report is to analyse the barriers and potentials for implementing PEDs in Denmark and in Aalborg East. First, we discuss the relevance of PEDs in a Danish context and outline our understanding of PEDs. Here, we discuss how the PED concept fits into the Danish context and aligns with the existing (infra)structures in Denmark. Second, we turn our attention to Aalborg East and outline the main characteristics of Aalborg East, and how Aalborg East may develop into a PED. Third, we discuss the barriers and potentials for developing Aalborg East into a PED. In conclusion, we summarise the main barriers and potentials for developing Aalborg East into a PED that needs to be taking into consideration when developing future energy scenarios, business models and an implementation strategy for Aalborg East

Land use planning as an instrument for more environmentally sustainable second-home developments:Hindrances and potentials

Second homes contribute to significant environmental challenges. Despite political goals on restricting land use and dampening negative impacts, the building of second homes in Norway and elsewhere seems to have been little affected by such policies to date. Land use planning is crucial in deciding development of second homes, and in Norway it has been discussed for decades how such planning could be done more sustainably. The objective of the article is to explore promising ways forward for more environmentally sustainable second home planning through a comprehensive review of literature on characteristics of development trends for second homes and the planning and governance system, and drawing on theories on scales and governance of environmental problems. The main finding and conclusion is that planning of second homes must remain at the local level where most other land use is allocated, but their planning needs to be more strongly governed, framed and supported by national and regional levels, in a collective multilevel effort. A further finding and conclusion is that specific second home policies are mostly needed in relatively few high-pressure areas.</p

The hidden side of Norwegian cabin fairytale:climate implications of multi-dwelling lifestyle

In addition to a primary dwelling, having access to a non-primary dwelling for leisure activities is a mass phenomenon with a long tradition in Norway. This paper questions the Norwegian multi-dwelling lifestyle by critically discussing its climate implications. Based on a questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews with persons having access to non-primary dwellings, the paper analyzes the mobility pattern and housing consumption pattern of the multi-dwelling lifestyle. Two lifestyle groups are distinguished: traditional, and modern multi-dwelling lifestyles. A discussion of the climate implications of the two multi-dwelling lifestyles suggests that the traditional non-primary dwelling lifestyle is less climate harmful than the modern one. Furthermore, informed by the weak and strong sustainability perspectives, the paper suggests two climate policy pathways in order to raise and enrich the debates on climate-friendly development of the multi-dwelling lifestyle.publishedVersio

Nonionic surfactants increase digoxin absorption in Caco-2 and MDCKII MDR1 cells: Impact on P-glycoprotein inhibition, barrier function, and repeated cellular exposure

Nonionic surfactants commonly used in pharmaceutical formulations may have P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibiting and/or permeation enhancing effects. The present work aims to distinguish these effects and assess the degree of cellular recovery after multiple exposures to nonionic surfactants. The investigated surfactants were polysorbates (PS): PS20, PS40, PS60, PS65, PS80 and PS85; monosaccharide-based: lauroyl methyl glucamide and n-nonyl-β-D-glucopyranoside; or disaccharide-based: lauryl-β-D-maltoside and trehalose 6-laurate. Bi-directional permeability studies of digoxin and mannitol, and calcein-AM efflux assay were performed in cell cultures. Cellular recovery was evaluated by continuous measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) in Caco-2 cell monolayers. Polysorbates with one fatty acid chain decreased the efflux of digoxin through P-gp inhibition in MDCKII MDR1 cells. Mono- and di-saccharide-based surfactants, in a dose dependent manner, enhanced digoxin absorptive permeability without decreasing the secretory permeability in Caco-2 cells, suggesting that the surfactants had a transcellular permeation enhancing effect. Caco-2 cell monolayers recovered to different degrees of 60-100% of the initial TEER values. Calcein-AM assay was found to be non-predictive to surfactants influence on digoxin permeability across cell monolayers. In conclusion, these results may assist, in a mechanism-based, selection of suitable surfactants for formulating oral dosage forms to enhance the absorption of low bioavailable P-gp substrates

The densification of second home areas — sustainable practice or speculative land use?

UN Sustainable Development Goal #11 prescribes a much more careful territorial planning and land use control. This study documents second homes’ land use from this perspective, considering higher built-up density as a measure to limit land-take. The quantitative study includes public property data on all second homes in Denmark. A concise account of the 180,000 properties demonstrates a tendency towards densification, measured as an increase in the amount of built space on the existing land sites. Over time, the average house size increases, an expression of improved living quality. Incentive for owners are the rising second home market prices and the opportunities for creating profitable ownership by offering the property on the touristic renting market when they do not use it themselves. The sustainability-motivated appeal for densification coincides with the speculative land use intensification. The dual agenda is backed by the tourism lobby and policymakers. The downside of densification is the simultaneous underprioritizing of other important sustainability goals, such as biodiversity, the preservation of landscape values, human wellbeing, etc. Following a public debate about unintended side effects of densification, there seems to be an emerging discussion about the needs to move from a very liberal multilevel planning model for second home areas towards a more firm and transparent planning practice. This corresponds with the recommendations in the SDGs.</p

Nonionic surfactants modulate the transport activity of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and solute carriers (SLC):Relevance to oral drug absorption

Recently, it has become evident that pharmaceutical excipients may interfere with the activity of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and solute carriers (SLC). The present review aims to provide an overview of surfactants shown to modulate substrate transport via SLCs and ABCs, and to discuss the relevance for oral drug absorption. In vitro, more than hundred surfactants have been suggested to decrease the efflux activity of P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1), and many of these surfactants also inhibit the breast cancer resistance protein (BCPR, ABCG2), while conflicting results have been reported for multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2, ABCC2). In animals, surfactants such as pluronic® P85 and polysorbate 20 have been shown to enhance the oral absorption of P-gp and BCRP substrates. Many surfactants, including cremophor® EL and Solutol® HS 15 inhibiting ABC transporters, were also found to inhibit SLCs in cell cultures. These carriers were SLC16A1, SLC21A3, SLC21A9, SLC15A1-2, and SLC22A1-3. This overlap in specificity of surfactants that inhibit both transporters and carriers might influence the oral absorption of various drug substances, nutrients, and vitamins. Such biopharmaceutical elements may be relevant for future drug formulation design.</p